Senate committee backs bill to create donation account for Missing Indigenous Persons Task Force

House Bill 83, carried in the Senate by Senator Newman on behalf of Representative Tyson Running Wolf, would create a mechanism for private donations to support Montana’s Missing Indigenous Persons Task Force. The committee recommended the Senate concur in the House bill without amendment.

The nut graf: supporters said the task force—established in 2019—lacks a financial mechanism to receive donated funds; the bill creates an account managed through the legislative audit to accept and distribute donations for search, rescue, and related support activities.

Senator Newman summarized the bill and the statewide problem the task force addresses, noting there are currently 179 missing people reported in Montana, 48 of whom are Native (about 27 percent of the total). Newman described jurisdictional gaps and the task force’s need for resources; the bill was described as emerging from an interim committee and stakeholder work.

There was no floor amendment or extended debate in committee; the clerk recorded the committee recommendation to concur in the House bill and the subsequent tally showed concurrence. The bill was recommended for concurrence and forwarded accordingly.

If concurred by the full Senate, HB 83 would create a public account for donations to support the task force’s investigative and search efforts and authorize legislative audit oversight for fund management.

Votes at committee/concurrence: recorded committee concurrence and later recorded concurrence on the floor as noted in the committee report.